Senior Janine Dutton and the Huskers will seek an NCAA appearance this season.

Photo by Scott Bruhn/Nebraska Communications

Nebraska Ranked Tenth in CRCA Preseason Poll

By NU Athletic Communications

| 09/10/2012

The Nebraska rifle team earned a preseason ranking of tenth in the Collegiate Rifle Coaches Assocation (CRCA) Top 20 Coaches Poll. The Sept. 8 poll awarded TCU the top spot, while Kentucky and West Virginia rounded out the top three.

The Huskers came in at fifth among Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) schools in the poll after finishing third at the GARC Championships in 2012. NU trails Kentucky (No. 2), West Virginia (No. 3) Army (No. 5) and Ole Miss (No. 6). The Big Red edged conference members Memphis (No. 14) and North Carolina State (No. 16) in the rankings.

All of Nebraska's non-tournament opponents this season appeared in the rankings, with seven of the nine snagging spots in the top ten. The Huskers will face TCU (No. 1), Kentucky (No. 2), West Virginia (No. 3), Alaska (No. 4), Army (No. 5), Ole Miss (No. 6) in regular season action and are also likely to see multiple ranked opponents at the Withrow Invitational in January.

The Nebraska rifle team is in their first season under the leadership of new head coach and former Husker shooter Stacy Underwood. NU completed their 2011-12 campaign with a record of 10-15-1 and a third-place finish at the GARC Championships.

The Huskers' season will kick off during the first weekend of October as Nebraska welcome Alaska and North Carolina State to Lincoln. The Big Red will face Alaska on Friday, Oct. 5 before finishing the weekend against North Carolina State on Sunday, Oct. 10. Both matches are slated for an 8 a.m. CDT start.